If I Build It, Will They Come?

Late Roman/Byzantine Coin Display. Money and Calgary Exhibition. Nickle Galleries, The University of Calgary. Calgary, Alberta. May 2019 —July 2019. Photo courtesy of Brittany Demone.

Want to know what I have been up to? Well, recently I wrote a paper that asked; how are Byzantine coins used to represent cultural identity and the cultural heritage of Byzantium (aka Eastern Roman Empire) in modern day Greece? The answer is long and drawn out, but to put it bluntly: Not very well!

My current project will address this question in a more Canadian context. I am currently working in the #NickleGalleries at the University of Calgary, Alberta, and exploring how the Byzantine coin collection here can be used in new and innovative ways to engage the public. Since COVID has struck, this question is more important than ever. Why? Simply put, unless we figure out how to present the past in new and interactive ways these coins will probably spend most of their time locked up in a vault. Not fun!

Just some dude lying on a crocodile. No biggie.

Accession Number: NG.1990.3.63 Nickle Gallery. Calgary, Alberta. Photo Credit: Scott Coleman.

Coins were meant to be passed between people. Exchanged. They help humanity form connections, relationships and bonds. They are the most durable and tangible artifact that endures in the archaeological record. Coins are archaeological artifacts, historical documents and pieces of art. They give us clues into how a society perceived itself, its religion, how its economy worked, who ruled a society, and so much more. I will not drag this out any longer. I am creating a series that will document my journey to develop a new and interactive way to approach coin exhibitions. I will post some pictures and write about my day to day experience with this project. I hope to even receive feedback from you, whoever you are — if you are out there and are actually reading this.

But before I move on, I need a name for this series. Any suggestions?